DKI Provincial Government Suggests Rapid Test As Requirements For Visitors To Enter Night Entertainment Places

Discotheque illustration (Allie / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The DKI Provincial Government is discussing the protocol for opening a nightclub during the COVID-19 pandemic. Head of the Tourism Industry Division of the DKI Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Parekraf) Bambang Ismadi said there were suggestions for additional requirements for visitors.

The prerequisite is to carry out an examination in the form of a rapid test before entering night entertainment venues, such as diksotek, karaoke places, bars, spas, and massage parlors.

"If the night entertainment venue is about to open, we suggest additional special protocols. For example, if anyone wants to enter the karaoke place, he must have a rapid test on the spot," Bambang said when contacted by VOI, Wednesday, July 23.

In addition to the rapid test, the requirements for entering night entertainment places are also proposed to use a COVID-19-free certificate from the results of a swab test or a non-reactive rapid test certificate for a period of several days.

Bambang realizes that the proposed rapid test requirements for visitors are indeed troublesome for night entertainment entrepreneurs. In fact, this has the potential to harm entrepreneurs because visitors will think twice about spending more to enter the nightclub.

However, said Bambang, this is a risk for night entertainment entrepreneurs if they are determined to open their business premises. "We also prioritize health management rather than the economy. This requirement also allows visitors and workers to feel safe," said Bambang.

"I am sure, if you are invited to a karaoke place, you will think twice about it. You see, many people are physically fit but they are carriers and infect other people, in other words people without symptoms," he added.

At present, Bambang said that his party would gather businessmen to finalize the protocol for opening night entertainment venues, before finally being handed over to the DKI COVID-19 Handling Acceleration Task Force.

Some time ago, a number of night entertainment workers protested against DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan through demonstrations. They demanded Anies to reopen the nightclub which was the source of his livelihood.

The demonstration was organized by the Jakarta Entertainment Entrepreneurs Association (Asphija). General Chairperson of Aspija Hana Suryani demanded Anies Baswedan to reopen nightclubs which have been closed due to COVID-19.

Hana assessed that the government has never provided a clear solution. Even though employers and entertainment employees claim to be ready to carry out health protocols if they are allowed to operate again.

He said, as a result of the closure of night entertainment, tens of thousands of employees became unemployed. In fact, there are workers who are unable to pay the rent for the house contract, so they are expelled from the rent.

"We came here because our business premises have been closed for 4 months. The government doesn't care about us. In fact, we are ready to carry out the COVID-19 health protocol, and we will comply," said Hana.